Beastie Boys’ Career to Be Adapted Into ‘Licensed to Ill’ Musical

The Beastie Boys will be the subject of an upcoming musical dubbed Licensed to Ill after the trio’s 1986 debut. Presented by Simon Maeder and Adam El Hagar, the play will tell the story of Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock’s rise to fame, while incorporating live music and DJs. Read the full description below:

Join Mike D, MCA and AdRock -- the Beastie Boys -- as they go from teenage punk rockers to international rapping legends.
Using a mix of live music and DJ-ing, we travel through time from the hiphoppers of late ’80s New York to the early ’90s gangsters of LA -- all the way to the total globalisation of hiphop. This loud, crazy show -- a hiphop history tour and a playful exploration of the rules of cultural appropriation -- will have you laughing and gasping in equal measure. Whether you know your Ghostface Killas from your Ice Cubes or if you’ve never heard anyone rhyme to a beat in your life, you’re guaranteed a good time. Join us this Christmas and be a part of hiphop history. Not for the easily offended.

While Mike D and Ad-Rock are aware of the Licensed to Ill musical, Maeder told Pitchfork they are not involved in its production. “Whilst we have ensured the Beastie Boys are fully appraised of our plans for the show, this is an unauthorized production based on the Beastie Boys story,” he said.

Licensed to Ill will run from Nov. 23 to Dec. 12 at Camden People’s Theater in London.